Beach Spectacular set for Saturday (Audio included)

7/3/2013 2:11:21 PM

By Nate Dunham

Indian Lake will be hosting the annual Beach Spectacular at Old Field Beach Saturday.

The event will include events all day at the beach. A car show will begin at 10 am. Pageants will begin at 11 am with Beach Baby and Beach Toddler, at 12 pm Mister and Miss Firecracker costume contest, and at 1 pm the crowning of Little Miss/Junior Miss/Miss Indian Lake. Indian Lake’s Got Talent will begin at 3 pm. WPKO will take over at 5 pm as Matt Smith will host the Nite Mix live from the beach with requests and dedications along with games and prizes. Fireworks will light up the sky at 10 pm. Bounce Houses will be available until 8 pm. Also food trailers and open swimming will be available.

This year’s show is expected to last 20 minutes and will be accompanied by the Martin's Landscaping Skyfire soundtrack playing a mix of music with the fireworks on 98.3 WPKO. During the show, around 1,400 shots will be set off, ranging from three to six-inch shells. This means that shells will be set off less than a second apart during the show.

Zambelli, from New Castle, Pennsylvania, will be setting off the fireworks electronically. Indian Lake has been using Zambelli for about 20 years. Zambelli has also set off the fireworks for the Kentucky Derby in Louisville.

The fireworks are funded by local businesses and donations provided by Indian Lake residents in donation cans. This year’s show costs around $25,000.

The event, held on the Saturday closest to the 4th, is expected to have more than 50,000 spectators. Pack your sunscreen, swimsuits, and radio to tune into 98.3 WPKO.

In the mid-1990s, Bill Reed took on the project of putting on the fireworks at Indian Lake. In 1998, Reed handed the job over to Steve Spath, who has been doing it since. Spath says he does the show in memory of Reed who has since passed away.

Spath would like to extend his gratitude to the state park maintenance crews, rangers, and volunteers for the work they do to help put on the show. Spath also thanks the local law enforcement agencies, fire departments, and EMS.

Spath speaks about the fireworks show.

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